MEAT CONTROL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 19 July 1924, Page 5

MEAT CONTROL

RIVER PLATE COMPETITION

Waited Press Association.)

PALMERSTON N., July 18

The following extract from one of the leading meat importing firms in London, received by a Palmerston resident, is illuminating in view of the recent strictures of the Meat Export Control Board. ‘•We find that the South American sheep appear to be in sufficient supply for the demand. Supplies were held hack when the market went particularly low here, with the result that there is a little more afloat from that country. It is a definffe and undeniable fact, and one we cannot be too emphatic about, that River Plate sheep have entirely taken possession of the mutton market, previously held by New Zealand, and that apart from the small trade in the very best descriptions of New Zealand sheep there is very little business indeed for oher descriptions. In our daily visits to Smithfield we have continuous and tiresome complaints from stallholders re the sale of New Zealand mutton. On Wednesday one of our clients had about half a dozen of a well-known Dominion freezing work’s sevens left on the hooks unsold, "together with one River Plate sheep of equivalent weight. We were asked to give an opinion as to the best quality sheep on the hooks, and, unfortunately, we had to find in favour of the River - Plate. Tt must be admitted that the best sheep were sold earlier, but the graded prime cost to stallholders (bought well) was 6|d for the New Zealand and 5Jd for River Plate. It is not to he wondered at that for every ten New Zealand sheep clients sell they sell 100 River Plate, with less trouble. The quality of New Zealand sheep, this year probablv owing to the drought, has been poor, and too few choice sheep coming over. The "bulk is no better than River Plate, and prices are out of proportion. The same applies to lamb. It is ridiculous to think that New Zealand second graders, ordinary brands, are making lOd per lb. It is making that, price at the moment (early June) simply because there is very little Australian lamb for sale.”